Adjustable connecting rod



May 19, 1931. w. HILLS ET AL ADJUSTABLE CONNECTING 'ROD Filed April 1l, 1950 l N VEN TORS, Wal/2'@ #Yi/5 Patented May 19, Y1931 i UNITED STATES WALLIE HILLS AND FRED w- HILLS, r Asriseazselsaa esstaneesfr ,Qllsf'rljflvr no ALTHELBERT A. FISH. 1 s

ADJUSTABLE cannporrne 'non Application lfiled April 11,

1 adapted for use on a harvesting machine.Y

v5 The connecting rod or pitman, as it is sometimes called, is specifically vdesigned for operating the cutterbar of a harvester but since it is also adapted for other purposes, we do not Wish to be limited to 'any particular use.

The main object of the invention is to provide a self-lubricating connecting rod which will in itself constitute an.A oil reserwhile the device lto which it is attached is in motion and to cut off the supplyof lubricant when the mechanism -is at rest.

The invention consists in certain novel parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be specifically described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.- l is a View partly in elevation and partly in section of a connecting rod constructed in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2;-2 of FigureV l and i Fig'. 3 is a perspective view of one of the removable bearing block members. i

As illustrated, the` invention consists of two yoke-shaped pipes l and 2 vconnected in spaced relation by tubular connectors or pipes 3 and 4 to malrean elongated substantially elliptical connecting rod. 'The end member l is preferably provided with threaded ends 5 and 6 while similar ends 7 Y and 8 are -provided on the member 2. We prefer to have the end members 5 and 6 with right hand threads and the ends 7 and 8 with left hand threads and to thread the members 3 and 4 correspondingly sov that when the members 3. and 4 are turned,the ends l and 2 can be adjusted-one withrespect to the other and Vafter the adjustment is made,the parts will be held rigid by the lock nuts 9, 10, ll and 12. In order-to supply lubricant, such as oil, to the closed endless reservoir, we provide a iller cap 13. Theyoke-shaped pipe ends 1 and 2 carry sectional bearing 5:3 blocks.l The bearing block members 14 vand l5 are VrigidlyV seeuredlto. the,"membersuli-'andr l "2! andthey have half-round; seats-18 and 19 in the removable block1nembers20 and 21.

theimembers l and.v 2 project, theends ofthe 4membersland being. received' in seatsf26 and 27 andj'securedtothelrnembersl ands2 the lock nutsg28, 29', SO-and `A31; Between the complementary edges l of; the;Y sectional bearing'blocks''may be placedshirns 32,.` The cranks' vor. eccentrics ar-e'received in thealbearvoir supplying lubricant-'to the eccentrics'jngfopeningsin the usual: wfay YVZhen the machine lis operatingA with the oil in the res-j ervoir, then, oil will be subjectedtorapprecithrong the'V *lubricant supplying openings 3.8 inv th'eblock'members 14l andjl.

fablefa' itationso thatv it' willl tend to .feed d provided at its upper end with a head1 35 in v the form 'of a nut andY within-the pipe space are ports or openingst'Y andl37': which communicate the pipes .or reservoir spacey withy theopenings '33'. vThe valve-.cage is .provided with a valve seat vonfwhich` is loosely mounted a valve 39.having-aj-rounded kend1`40 teV seat on the .valvi-jseat.v Thevvalves is of less diameter than the interior; diametenof theV upper` bar of the. valve-cage and. since,` the valve cages are in? substantially vertical posi.-

tionshat all times, thevalves 59k will; tend to seat to1 closeioff cornmunirlbation4 between the reservoir and the ports 33. When,v however, the pitman is: in motion, the valves-will beV oscillated ofi' and on their seats so that the lubricant willgbeslowfly fed to th'efbearings throughthe openingls. Just as soon as the machine comes tov a state of rest, however, the valves will seat so that the oil from the reservoir'will not leak into' the bearings. The J I valve cages are provided with plugs 41'and 42 so that the valves can be inserted on theiry Seats and held .under norma-1 conditions and so the valves can be removed for inspection and repairs.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that We have provided a strong durable and inexpensive self-lubricating connecting rod or pitman having an interior lubricant controlling means which will automatically start to lubricate the bearings when the machine is in motion but will eifectually cut off the lubricant supply to the bearings when the machine is at rest. It will also be apparent that the connecting rod can be lengthened or shortened by backing off the nuts 9, 10, 11 and 12 and turning the hollov7 connectors 3 and 4. It will also be apparent that means is provided for taking up the wear on the bearings.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. A connecting rod comprising a continuous hollow loop-shaped reservoir, bearings at the ends of the loops in ported communication with the reservoir and valves normally closing the ports, movable to uncover the ports upon movement of the connecting rod.

2. A connecting rod comprising an elongated member having an endless reservoir space, bearings carried by the member in ported communication with theV reservoir space and gravitating valves normally closing the orts, unseatable upon movement of the mem er.

3. A connecting rod comprising two hollow yoke-shaped members, hollow pipes adjustably connecting said members, the yokeshaped members and pipes constituting an oil reservoir, bearing blocks carried by the yoke-shaped members and means within the reservoir for controlling the flow of oil to the bearing blocks.

4. A connecting rod comprising two hollow yoke-shaped members, hollow pipes adjustably connecting said members, the yokeshaped members and pipes constituting an oil reservoir, bearing blocks carried by the yokeshaped members and bodily movable valves Within the reservoir for controlling the flow of oil to the kbearing blocks.

Y 5. A connecting rod comprising an elongated hollow loop to contain lubricant, bearing block members at the ends of the loop having ported communication with the interior thereof and removable bearing block members carried by the loop, cooperating with the irst bearing block members to provide bearings.. l

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures.

WALLIE HILLS. FRED W. HILLS. 

